Razor-strop holder and backing



{No Model.) W. H. BELL.

RAZOR STROP HOLDER AND BACKING.

No. 540,135. Patented May 28, 1895;

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UNITED STATES Aren't FFICE.

WILLIAM ll. BELL, OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY.-

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 540,135, dated May 28, 1895.

Application filed January 11,1 895. Serial No. 534,583- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. BELL, lieutenant colonel, Subsistence Corps, United States Army, a citizen of the United States, residing at Arvada, in the county of Jefferson and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Razor-strop Holders and Backings; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

-My invention relates to improvements in apparatus for sharpening razors, and it consists in certain novel features hereinafter described and claimed. In the ordinary form of flexible strop the strop bends as the razor is applied thereto, causing the edge of the razor to become rounded. This has been obviated in various ways, and the hereinafter described invention is believed to be a very simple and satisfactory method of remedying this defect with flexible strops.

My invention will be better understood after reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the same parts'are indicated by the same letters throughout the several views.

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a flexible razor-strop with my improved stifi'ening-back for the same and illustrates its use.

- Fig. 2 represents a plan view of the improved stiffening-back for the flexible razor strop, parts being broken away. Fig. 3 represents a side elevation of the device shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 represents an inverted plan view of the device shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and Fig. 5 represents a side elevation of the improved stiffening-back as folded back upon itself forconvenience of storage.

A represents the rigid back for the flexible strop B. This rigid back is made entirely separate from the said strop and is composed of two parts A and A pivoted together at a The part A is provided with a handle a, and is bifurcated at its opposite end to receive the tongue a of the opposite member A These two members A and A are both beveled as at a so that the rigid back will be straight when in the operative position as shown in Fig. 1. A latch o. is provided to clamp the tongue a in the closed position, as shown most clearly in Fig. 4.

thumb piece I), and carries at its opposite end a link B preferably secured to the strop by means of the plate I) as shown in Fig. 1.

This link B is provided with holding shoulders b and is connected to the swivel B having an eye 6 adapted to slip over the hook O which is secured object.

The rigid back A is provided with a plate E having dual folding arms e adapted to engage the holding shoulders b of the link 13'. In operation these hooks e are slipped over the shoulders 19 as shown in Fig.1, and the strop Bis stretched taut along the rigid back A, and is held in position by the thumb of the operator, as shown in the said figure. ever it is desired to use the opposite side of the razor strop the hooks e are disengaged, strop Bis revolvedabout the swivel B through one hundred and eighty degrees, and the hooks e are replaced in holding position, as shown in Fig. 1.

It will be seen that the herein described apparatus provides a rigid and readily adjusted back for the ordinary flexible strops now in use.

For more convenient storage, the rigid back is made in two parts folded upon itself as shown in Fig. 5. I

It will be obvious that various modifications of the herein described apparatus might be made which could be used without departing from the spirit of my invention.

to the wall or any other fixed VVhen- Having thus described my invention, what.

I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In an apparatus for sharpening razors, the combination with a flexible strop, of a .rigid back composed of two members hinged together, the one member being bifurcated, and the other member having a tongue adapted to engage in said bifurcations, the two members being beveled so as to be held in a straight line when in the operative position, substantially as and for the purposes de scribed.

2. In an apparatus for'sharpening razors, the combination Wlllhfi. reversible flexible strop B, and a rotatable link B secured thereto;the said link having holding shoulders 5 of a rigid back,and a holding plate E having hook-shaped arms e adapted to engage the shoulders b substantially as and for the purposes described.

3. In an apparatus for sharpening razors, the combination with a reversible flexible I strop B, and rotatable link B secured thereto,

the said link having holding shoulders 5 of a jointed back A composed of two members A and A hinged together, the member A having a handle a and the plate E having hooked-shaped arms e adapted to engage said shoulders 5 substantially as and for the purposes described. I

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

WILLIAM H. BELL.

Witnesses: v

EDWARD HUNTER, A. S. HUBBARD. 

